Bevy of beauties bound for SA
NEW STYLES HITTING THE CATWALK: LOCAL LINE-UP WILL HAVE A CAR TO SUIT ALL TASTES These Beemers and Minis will be in the country this year.
With confirmation of incoming models for 2024 announced throughout the latter stages of last year and the unveiling of each, BMW South Africa detailed its product plans for the year at a media “meet and greet” in Midrand last week.
Initially planned for unveiling in the fourth quarter of 2023, the local line-up will consist of the mild-hybrid petrol 520i and oil-burning 520d, both rearwheel-drive, and the all-electric, all-wheel-drive i5 M60 which produces 380kW/795Nm, thanks to a 81.2kWh battery pack powering two electric motors.
Due in the second quarter, the dramatic new X2 will show itself in sDrive 20i and sDrive 18d guises, the latter without any hybrid assistance, along with the flagship M35i, whose 48-volt assisted 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine develops the same 233kW/400Nm as in its Countryman Cooper S stablemate.
For the time being, the all-electric iX2 remains a no-no.
The second quarter of 2024 will see the debut of the facelifted M3 and M4, while the biggest highlight will be the long-awaited debut of the M3 Touring.
Munich’s highly anticipated answer to the Audi RS4 Avant, the first station wagon M3 will be sold in limited numbers, and as the second estate model on local soil after the V10-engine E60 M5 Touring bowed-out in 2011.
An official date of reveal is still to be made, but the M3 Touring shares its fundamentals with the M3 Competition sedan, meaning the fitting of the xDrive all-wheeldrive and the 375kW/650Nm version of the S58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine.
Limited to 250km/h or 280km/h when specified with M Driver’s Package, the Touring will go from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, from 0-200km/h in 12.9sec, and as a result of its body style, accommodate 500 to 1 510-litres of luggage.
On the Mini side, the roll-out will commence in the second quarter of the year, starting with the all-new Countryman.
Revealed in four guises last year, South Africa will receive the entire family of models, namely the Countryman C which replaces the base Cooper, the Countryman Cooper S, the John Cooper Works (JCW) and for the first time, the all-electric Countryman Cooper SE.
Due at the same time are the electric Cooper E and first time Cooper SE hatches, joined later by the still-to-be-revealed combustion engine versions.
Based on an EV-optimised platform co-developed by Great Wall Motors (GWM) and made in China as opposed to the combustion engine variants assembled at the Oxford Plant in the United Kingdom, the Cooper E derives motivation from a 40.7kWh battery pack producing 135kW/290Nm, while the bigger 54.2kWh module develops 160kW/330Nm in the Cooper SE.
Respective ranges are 305km and 402km, with BMW claiming a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.3sec for the former and 6.7sec for the latter.
As for the Countryman, the
C makes 125kW/280Nm from its turbocharged 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol engine, and the Cooper
S 160kW/360Nm from its electrified 2.0-litre turbo-petrol.
Aided by the 48-volt system, which adds 14kW for short spells, the Countryman C will get from 0-100km/h in 8.3sec, on to a top speed of 212km/h. The Cooper S’s performance figures are still unknown.
While both will be fitted with the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox, only the latter will have access to the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.
Omitting any form of electrification, the all-wheel-drive Countryman JCW gets the same engine as the Cooper S, but with outputs lifted to 233kW/400Nm.
Top speed is limited to 250km/h, with the 0-100km/h wait taking 5.4sec.
Finally, the all-electric Countryman will debut solely in Cooper SE guise. It makes 230kW/494Nm, thanks a dual-motor configuration powered by a 64.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Limited to 180km/h, the Countryman Cooper SE will get from 0-100km/h in 5.6sec and cover 462km on a single charge, requiring a waiting time of 30 minutes from 10-80% when using a DC fast charger up to 130kW.
From a local production standpoint, the final quarter will see start of assembly of the all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) X3.
Currently in the final stages of testing, the X3 will make its global debut this year, but not for South Africa, as a models destined for the local market, will only go on-sale in 2025 as a result of the PHEV taking preference.
Part of BMW’s R4.2 billion investment into the Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria last year, the “delayed” unveiling of the combustion engine X3 stems from the plant being the sole facility where the PHEV will be built for export to global markets.
The introduction of the PHEV is, however, not expected to affect production of export market combustion engine new X3s, which will be made first instead of necessitating the same wait until 2025 as those heading for BMW South Africa dealerships.
While the new X3 will be present on local soil this year in both forms, sales will only start in 2025.